Leading criminal defense attorney Steve Cron tells HollywoodLife.com there’s a reason Lindsay Lohan’s mom and sister got to visit her in jail during non-visitation days — and it’s not because she’s a VIP!

Lindsay Lohan gets a lot freebies and preferential treatment because she’s famous — but her celebrity status won’t help her in jail, says Los Angeles-based criminal lawyer Steve Cron.

“If Dina and Ali were standing outside in the crowd, who knows what would happen,” Cron — who’s worked on several celebrity cases in the past — says. “There would be pushing and shoving. People would be in their faces. It would create a problem and the Sheriff’s Department is trying to avoid it.”

Cron likens Dina and Ali’s unique visitor treatment at the jail to Lindsay’s separated (and some would say, VIP) cell.

“It’s just like how Lindsay’s getting her own cell for security purposes. She’s not in the honeymoon suite,” Cron says. “The Sheriff’s Department does not want a circus, so it makes adjustments as it sees fit.”

What happens if Dina and Ali get to visit Lindsay more than the allotted two days a week…is THAT special treatment? Not necessarily, Cron says.

“They may be concerned about Lindsay hurting herself,” Cron says, explaining, “For example, if a jail doctor says Lindsay’s extremely depressed and that she might hurt herself, he could recommend Dina come talk to her and cheer her up. That request would be honored.”

Lindsay is expected to serve approximately 12 days of her allotted 90 day sentence in jail. From there she’ll head directly to 90 days in a court-ordered rehab.